I got an owl from my HSKS4 partner Olive Bladvak yesterday. Marty the owl arrived during like a rather large spring snow storm, he was tired tired after his flight from Okinawa, Japan! I let him rest and gave him some owl treats before he insisted on taking flight to return to Olive. I am so spoiled! The box was a little wet from the snow, but nothing inside was harmed. The box was packed with so many knitters wizarding treats I didn't know what to look at first! A good bit of the treats are from Japan, so there was a lot of stuff that I have never seen and never would have seen if she hadn't sent them to me. Everything was all done up in Gryffindor colors with ribbons and labels- so creative and fun! Check out all of my Gryffindor goodies:

There's the whole lot of it together. Look at all the time she took wrapping everything up and making it all look wonderful.
Another shot at all the wrapped up goodness.
She sent me two sock spells, a pair of bamboo needles from Japan, Knit Picks Harmony dpns in the 2.5mm size, and some really great yarn. The yarn is hand painted 100% Merino by All the Pretty Fibers in the Indian Summer colorway. Perfect Gryffindor yarn, and it is also the perfect yarn for the Firestarter sock spell- fitting for a Gryffindor. I didn't have any 2.5mm dpns, so they are just the needles I needed!
Here are some non-knitting goodies. Look at all those sweet little tea cups and mugs from Japan- how cool are they? Each one was wrapped in gold tissue paper and tied with a scarlet and gold ribbon with a label telling me where it was from or what it was for. The mug in the middle was filled with tea for Potions. The red cup is filled with assorted candies from Honeydukes International. The flowered cup has lemon (gold) and cola (red) Gryffindor Goodies. I can't believe that nothing was broken on the long trip, Marty really is a talented owl!
These were tied up with a ribbon that said "Imports from a wizarding village in Asia" Three sets of fancy chopsticks- all very pretty. Two skeins of Gryffindor colored yarn form Japan. I have no idea what fiber it is for sure or anything, the only thing on the labels that's in English is "Space Dyde Knitting Yarn" yes, spelled just like that. I need a spell or charm that will let me read in Japanese for a little while! The chopsticks are great and I love the yarn.

Some treats from a Japanese wizarding village I imagine. Broomstick Snacks, Chocolate Wands, and some really cute little suckers in the shape of cows. I have shared all of my treats and candies with the underage wizards in the house, but not all of them. I'm keeping some for myself! Maybe if I magically lock my trunk they won't find them...
Remember that cute yellow box with the fabric to hold it closed? It's really cool. There are three different sections to put things in. I opened the top and found some darning needles (how did she know I misplace mine a lot?) under that I found a compartment with a box of Gryffindor colored paper clips, and under there I found some beautiful beaded stitch markers in a little pouch.
These four cards came in a package marked "Owl Post" I suspect Olive made them herself- the owl on one of the cards matches the owls that were stamped onto the box all of this came in. Each card is different and they are really well done. Love them!
Last but not least the bag Olive made me. It's big enough that everything in the package was in the bag when I pulled it out of the box, so it's going to be great for keeping knitting in. The fabrics are really great. Not only are they perfect Gryffindor colors, but check out the print on that red- it's fireworks. They remind me of sparks shooting from wands! I love this bag.
Here's the inside. More cool fabric and a great little pocket.

Thank you so much Olive! I couldn't have possibly asked for a better or more fun swap package. Everything is just wonderful. You did a brilliant job on your first swap! I feel so spoiled, it was like Christmas for this knitting Harry Potter geek!

Thank you!!!!

Gryffindor House Final Quiz HSKS4

Here are my answers for the final house quiz:
-Grimmauld Place
-Luna Lovegood
-Dolores Umbridge
-Occlumency
-Grawp
-Thestrals
-Extendable Ears
-Scrimgeour
-Prophecy
-Saint Mungos
-Centaur
-Skiving Snackbox
-Room of Requirement
-Dumbledores Army
-Department of Mysteries

That was a tricky one, good thing Gryffindors are rather clever! Number three was particularly difficult due to a spelling error, but it all worked out. I can't believe it's nearly the end of term. I bet the owls really start flying now!

Quidditch- Round 3

The final round of Quidditch fro HSKS4.
Photo scavenger hunt:
Igor Karkaroff
basilisk
Mundungus Fletcher
Amos Diggory
Severus Snape
Now for the trivia/quiz:

1. When Rita Skeeter prints a bad articles about Hagrid in the Daily Prophet, which Professor teaches Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures class while he is away?


a. Professor Trisonikly


b. Professor Snape


c. Professor Grubbly-Plank


d. Professor Meshdeh


2. What was the article Rita Skeeter wrote about Hagrid called?


a. The son of Fridwulfa the Giantess


b. The Truth About Rubeus Hagrid


c. Dumbledore's Giant Mistake


d. Half Giant at Hogwarts


3. When the school champions were being chosen from the Goblet of Fire, whose name cam out first?


a. Fleur Delacour


b. Viktor Krum


c. Cedric Diggory


d. Harry Potter


4. What is the spell Ludo Bagman says to magically magnify his voice when he commentates?


a. Sonorus


b. Sonafy


c. Lumos


d. Sonatus


5. What kind of dragon did Cedirc have to face in the first task?


a. A Hungarian Horntail


b. A Swedish Short-Snout


c. A Welsh Green


d. A Chinese Fireball


6. Who raised the trophy after winning the world cup?


a. Troy and Moran


b. Troy and Quigley


c. Quigley and Moran


d. Lynch and Connolly


7. How many bedrooms did Mundungus Fletcher claim to have?


a. 4


b. 8


c. 10


d. 12


8. For what did Moody mistake his birthday gift of a carriage clock?


a. An intruder


b. A basilisk egg

c. A bomb


d. A Blast-ended Skrewt


9. What did Mr. Ollivander produce for the end of Cedric's wand?


a. A bunch of flowers


b. A fountain of wine


c. Twittering birds


d. Silver smoke rings


10. The dark mark is on Snape's left arm.


a. Yes


b. No



There, all done. I had to fix a few spelling errors on the quiz, I just couldn't help myself.
Wishing all Gryffindors good luck catching the snitch. Roar Gryffindor!!!

The Owl Made It!

My Ravenclaw (HSKS4) partner has her owl! She says she likes everything I sent her, even the special Luna-esque stitch markers. There's nothing better than knowing that your partner likes what you sent to them :)

In HSS3 news... My socks are all finished. I have to check through my collection of treats for my Slytherin pal, but I'm pretty sure that I'm ready to send her package by owl post too. I wonder what types of owls do overseas deliveries?

Owl Post- for real!

I sent these owls off to my HSKS4 partner yesterday afternoon. They don't have too far to fly so they should be there by the end of the week or sooner. I can't wait until she gets it, I hope she likes everything!

Owl Post- almost

I have everything I need to pack up my HSKS4 pals package. Yay! I'll be packing it up today or maybe tomorrow. I sure hope she likes everything.

HSKS4 Assignment

The headmistress set an assignment for the school to do a little research on Fleur Delacour. I've spent a few days in the hospital wing while Madame Pomfrey tries to remedy a rather ugly migraine and I'm still there. She won't let me do too much school work, but I'll write down what I do know about her.

Fleur Isabelle (Delacour) Weasley is part Veela, her mother was half Veela. Consequently she has no trouble attracting male attention with her silvery-blond hair and hidden charm. Her wand even has a Veela hair core, Mr. Ollivander finds this particular material to be an unreliable one however Fleur wand works beautifully for her due to her Veela heritage.

She attended Beauxbatons Academy of Magic in France under headmistress Madame Olympe Maxime. She submitted her name to the Goblet of Fire and was chosen as the Beauxbatons champion for the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Fleur had limited success in the tournament, although this was partly due to a bit of sabotage by Mad-Eye Moody/Barty Crouch Jr.

During the second task of the tournament in which she had to rescue her sister from the Black Lake she employed the Bubblehead Charm but was unable to retrieve her sister. (I remember reading somewhere, maybe J.K. Rowling's site, that Fleur's use of the Bubblehead Charm was a little jab at her character) Roger Davies was her escort to the Yule Ball that was held for the tournament.

Fleur decided to take a part time job at Gringotts Bank to help improve her English. Bill Weasley was working as a curse breaker for Gringotts at the time. Bill and Fleur started dating somewhere around this time, much to the dismay of the Weasley women. Fleur stands by Bill even after he is attacked by the werewolf Fenrir Greyback. This earns her the respect of Mrs. Weasley. She got married to Bill at The Burrow a short while after Albus Dumbledores death. They made their home at Shell Cottage where they help Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dobby and others in their fight against Lord Voldemort. Dobby is buried there by Harry.

Fleur fights against the Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort in the Battle of Hogwarts, along with her husband Bill and the Order of the Phoenix. She makes it through the battle and defeat of Lord Voldemort. Fleur and Bill go on to have three children. The oldest child, Victoire, was born on the one year anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts.

Quidditch Round 2 HSKS4

Time for Quidditch round 2 for HSKS4. As usual, first the quiz questions, then the picture scavenger hunt.

1. With whom does Ginny go to the Yule Ball?
a. Neville
b. Dean
c. Seamus
d. Harry

2. When Harry arrives at the Burrow and Mrs. Weasley makes them all dinner the night before they leave for the Quidditch World Cup, what does her wand turn into?
a. rubber mouse
b. rubber chicken
c. rubber duck
d. rubber cat

3. Since some of the sixth-year girls didn't have any quills on them, what did they think Krum might sign their hats in?
a. nail polish
b. eyeliner
c. lipstick
d. lipliner

4. How old does the Quick Quotes Quill say that Rita Skeeter is?
a. 43
b. 44
c. 34
d. 33

5. What color cloak is wormtail wearing in the Riddle house?
a. Grey (Gray)
b. Black
c. Gold
d. Silver

6. What color is "Mad Eye" Moody's magical eye?
a. Green
b. Hazel
c. Brown
d. Blue

7. What color are the robes that Rita Skeeter was wearing when Harry meets her at the Weighing of the Wands ceremony?
a. Lilac
b. Magenta
c. Mauve
d. Cerise

8. What does Sirius Black tell Harry, Ron and Hermione to call him when speaking around anyone else?
a. Tibbles
b. Snuffles
c. Scruffy
d. Padfoot

9. Which team beat Wales, disqualifying them from competing for the Quidditch World Cup?
a. Hungary
b. Romania
c. Uganda
d. Luxembourg

10. What does Madame Maxime say is the only thing her steeds will drink?
a. cabernet sauvignon
b. bourbon
c. single-malt whiskey
d. gin and tonics

Picture Hunt:
Goblet of Fire- Madam Maxime- Dragon from first challenge- Viktor Krum- Madam Pomfrey

Hogsmeade

The Gryffindor Prefect reminded me that the Headmistress wanted us all to write about our trip to Hogsmeade last weekend. Always a good place to find a way to spend your allowance.

I only had a few knuts left after paying the owl that delivered some Muggle knitting supplies earlier in the week, so I didn't do much shopping. No trip to Honeydukes for chocolate this time. Instead a nice trip to the Shrieking Shack, and then a bottle or two of Butterbeer with a few friends at The Three Broomsticks. Madam Rosmerta always has the best Butterbeer. It was a cold snowy day so an afternoon by the fire in the pub was perfect and a nice change from the Gryffindor Common Room fire.

Happy Valentines Day

O.K. I know it's Valentines Day and I should have found a picture with hearts or something to post here, but pumpkins are so much more appropriate for Hogwarts.


The professors are all terribly annoyed today because as usual the halls and class rooms are filled with Valentine charms and singing trolls delivering telegrams. The Potions Master hasn't been able to raise his wand without poking a singing troll in the eye- he certainly seems to have many admirers...

My Patronus

I just perfected my Patronus Charm. It turns out that my Patronus is an otter. Who would have thought? Does this mean I belong in the water eating clams?
I also did a quiz about who my HP alter ego would be and it's Harry. I never would have guessed that, but I guess since my Patronus is like Hermiones and my alter ego is Harry I certainly do belong in Gryffindor.